Feature

Predictomatron

The Alibi’s year in preview

Oprah may be our next vice president, Brad Pitt will cry in public ... and then the world will end.

As we approach the year’s closing, we’re accustomed to looking back: What life-altering discoveries were made these last 12 months? How many people died in a war most of us despise? Did we fall in love, break up, give birth?

Yet as natural as it is to reflect, it’s usually more fun to ponder the future. What lies ahead for 2008? Will global warming thwart civilization? Will President Bush survive the end of his term?

We asked local psychic mediums, advisors and a medicine man to tell us what lies in the year to come. They gave us a broad range of answers, from Oprah’s aforementioned vice presidential run to a massive volcanic eruption that will cover the world in ash. There’s no telling whether any of our prognosticators will be right, but we’ll track their predictions throughout the year and let you know at the end of it whether we can still see the sun.

Thanks to Kyra Gurney, Laura Marrich and Christie Chisholm for their work on this issue. To read the results for last year’s predictions, click here. Now, back to the future.

Michael Lente

Medicine Man

Beau Jester’s Magic and Novelties 977-1574

I had increased sensitivity as a child and developed my creative abilities as a cartoonist. As my intuition developed, so did my rather limited abilities. I believe we can all sense things--it’s just a matter of degree. Also, the universe works on its own schedule, and so we may be right a lot of the time but the details or the timing can be off. This isn’t what I would call an exact science, as it depends on a lot of variables.

I’m a Native American che’ani (medicine man) who works with a combination of petroglyphs, runes and tarot either singularly or in combination. I own Beau Jester’s Magic and Novelties Shop, and also do readings when not selling magic and other metaphysical supplies. From time to time I do seminars and teaching.

Politics

It would appear that the youngest one will come out on top, but not without a fight. There are many issues that cross over this time, but it’s not yet a time for a “minority” win. Interestingly, Oprah could be a vice presidential contender if she wanted--not on merit, but on popularity. Old seats will be lost to a more practical group of leaders.

Economics

The value of the dollar will bottom out as we verge on the edge of recession. The new standard isn’t dollars anymore but the power of oil and who controls the flow. Because of overspending and debt on the part of many, one wrong move could send the economy tumbling. Those using cash will be better off.

Environment

Global warming is a myth, as is global cooling. These things cycle through on a bigger scale than we can see or appreciate. It’s more a matter of how well we stay in balance with the Earth. The Earth will eventually awaken again and shake us off as if so many fleas. Watch the Texas coastline in August of next year. Also expect a change in atmospheric contaminants.

Science and Technology

An unexpected, major, new DNA find is upcoming with peculiar results and connections. It will affect how we see ourselves in relation to the rest of creation. Tracking devices will also be disguised in such a way that we are unaware of their existence. Be cautious.

Celebrity and Entertainment

A beloved, popular entertainment figure will be injured and perhaps die as a result of a foolish stunt. This is a younger person--late 30s to late 40s. Reality shows will peak and run their course as people look for more substantive issues to explore.

Media

Scandal appears as certain media moguls are exposed for having undue influence in affairs that are self-serving. As a result, justice is usurped because of incomplete or fraudulent reporting.

World Events

Israel will go its own way and will seem to be the rogue nation. However, Israel’s motivations will be secured upon sound reasoning and will be shown to be in the right. Others will misinterpret, and escalation of conflict seems certain. But it will be limited. Also, look for an unexpected world leader to come out of the Third World.

Michael R. Smith

Psychic Medium

I am a natural-born psychic medium with a spiritual counseling and empathic healing practice in Santa Fe. I am a former professor of counseling who became disillusioned with traditional therapy and have pursued shamanic methods of counseling for the last 15 years. I'm in the process of writing a book about my psychic adventures.

I receive my psychic information through the three main methods used by professional psychics, all of which have come naturally to me for most of my life. These methods are "clairaudience" (hearing spoken words of other dimensions or spirits), "clairvoyance" (seeing visions) and "clairsentience" (feeling or knowing).

I've seen hundreds, perhaps thousands, of visions, big and small, come true, and I've seen just as many not even come close to being true. The future is "fluid"--everything changes based upon human free will. Thus, what any psychic sees at any given time is just one of many possibilities that may be changed because of an individual or group's actions.

I believe we are given visions for two reasons: to take steps to either avoid or cultivate what we see, and if it's not avoidable, to prepare for what is coming. Thus, these visions may serve as warnings for us to change our behavior to avoid such tragedies.

Overview

Unfortunately, I see 2008 as a turbulent year, with disasters and setbacks likely exceeding anything we have known in United States history. For 2008, the best thing we can do is prepare to help our neighbors in times of need. This means stocking up on emergency supplies, such as canned food, water and portable sources of heat.

Politics

I see Barack Obama taking and leading the United States through tremendous turmoil over the next few years. The most likely Republican nominee is Mike Huckabee.

There is a strong likelihood President Bush may not finish his term in office. (I do not know if this is due to resignation, impeachment or death.) The government and people of the United States will suffer instability on a scale that we have not seen in a hundred years.

Economics

The word "recession" will be on everyone's tongue. Not only will the markets slide; the worldwide banking system is poised to suffer a major collapse and we would be well-advised to start thinking about ways of bartering. Emphasis will also return to gold and especially silver. We will eventually be using our paper money to light fires to stay warm.

Environment

This is a special area where I seem to be especially accurate and can often be very specific.

A major super-volcano is poised to erupt sometime this year, taking us all by suprise and sending ash all over the Earth, affecting worldwide political and economic systems. It will blow Mount St. Helens away in terms of magnitude, and an eruption may occur in the Washington state or British Columbia area.

There is a strong likelihood of a severe (magnitude 8.1) earthquake on the San Andreas fault in California, along with an associated minor tsunami and flooding. “The big one" will happen soon and it will not be pretty. That, coupled with a potential tsunami in the New York coastal area, means we should prepare for the worst--Katrina times 10.

During the last half of February, I see a huge winter storm coming that will paralyze the upper Midwest and central areas of the country.

I see devastating tornados coming for northern Colorado and Arizona. New Mexico should be safe this year.

As our indigenous and tribal elders have been telling us for some time, the water spirits are out of balance. This means disaster and flooding on a scale we have not previously seen in the technological scientific age. Clean drinking water will become more precious than gold. I cannot emphasize this point enough. Clean, unpolluted water is going to be the major challenge for us in the years ahead.

World Events

There is a potential of a large war in Indonesia in 2008, a prelude to WWIII. Iran is also a dangerous place this year; American journalists could be kidnapped in Iran and used for political purposes.

Trends

Our country will continue to endure large-scale, violence-related tragedies. We will become more afraid of each other than we are of terrorists overseas. I specifically see college campuses and arena sporting events as primary targets for violence this year, with potential tragedies in Ohio and/or Florida. After these events, our political leaders will call for an intense focus on internal homeland security.

Mendy Lou Blackburn

Psychic and Spiritual Advisor

139 Harvard SE239-9824

My intuition is an intrinsic characteristic, it has always been. My earliest memories include contending with the scriptures because I had a certain kind of sensory aid that gave me a larger-than-life experience in understanding the spirit of existence. Seeing, listening to and knowing Celestials became an ordinary part of my life. I have studied philosophy, psychology and ideology as a fundamental stabilization of my psyche. I then pursued the study of tarot for 40 years and the science of palmistry for 35. Now I'm an intuitive guidance counselor, which means I resource spirit and divine council. I won “Best Psychic” in the Alibi’s “Best of Burque Readers’ Poll” this year. I cannot be frivolous in my counsel, I can only tell the truth as I am shown.

Overview

With 2008, the place to begin is in the number, which comes with its own cosmic content. “Eight” is infinite wisdom and possibilities, a prosperous connection to the divine matrix. “Two” is unity built upon faith. The zeros are power, lots of power, unseen and of a higher nature. So we can expect impact on many levels for humanity. There will be lots of behind-the-scene activities, particularly in politics and media. We will also be faced with individual life challenges.

The theme should be wellness, goodness and unity as a whole pertaining to every individual, and the ingredients are faith and courage. This will be an abundant year for all who put their strength of belief to work in unfailing ways.

Politics

Clinton: She should have gone after vice president.

Richardson: He will not be living in the White House.

Obama/Edwards: There will be a power struggle here. This is going to be a nail-biter.

The Republican nomination is down to Huckabee and McCain. Intuitive speculation (tarot) says McCain. For the Democratic nomination, intuitive speculation has Obama.

Environment

Wild stuff. The weather is not reliable. The winters are going to get harder and the summers hotter, with many extremes. There will be major cataclysms; we are in it for a long haul.

Science and Technology

In April, there will be decisions of the ethical kind for science. May brings some kind of breakthrough that has old-fashioned, tried-and-true value: renewed understanding that will bring balance. There will be promise of fulfillment, prayers answered and sides chosen in June and July, money and support issues will preside over the intelligence in August.

World Relations

The veneer of social economic standards is on the verge of dissipation worldwide. In April, an oppressive power could be brought to its knees or at least well-disciplined, and in the months following a new authority will be uplifting. In the summer and fall, some will be standing on their own, while others convene for worthwhile platforms. There will be fresh new authority nearing winter. One or perhaps two women may present some fair, noteworthy objectives.

Cosmic Update

We are entering a new era. This era is, in fact, a golden age full of wealth and prosperity unlike any golden age before. This golden era is the dawning of universal consciousness, where universal law and cosmic truth preside over unanimity. Certainty and bliss will come from directing the spirit from within toward the ideal existence.

Catherine Wishart

Psychic

Catherine Wishart has been a professional psychic since 1987. She is the award-winning author of Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love and Live Like a Goddess. Wishart has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, including Good Morning Florida and The Rick Sanchez Show. She is the proud mother of two sons. She specializes in psychic readings about love, relationships, career and life purpose.

Overview

2008 will be a year of new beginnings, new inventions and new discoveries. For those of you who had a rotten 2007, rest assured 2008 will be much better. From a numerological standpoint, 2007 is a “nine” year [2+0+0+7=9], which represents endings, divorce, loss, transitions and completion. 2008 is a “one” year [2+0+0+8=10, 1+0=1], so it will be a time of new beginnings, growth and new opportunities.

Science and Technology

2008 will see a lot of new inventions. Phone technology will change dramatically this year. We’ll be seeing smaller car designs (you don’t have to be psychic to know this is fueled by rising gas costs).

I predict someone will invent interactive music instruction videos along the lines of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. So if any video game inventors are reading this, get to it and you’ll make a fortune.

Celebrity and Entertainment

The Writers’ Guild and the TV/movie studios will get it together by February. Unfortunately, the caliber of next season's TV shows and a few movies will suffer as everyone will be scrambling to get scripts out. In the meantime, be prepared for a flux of reality shows and reruns.

Britney Spears' life will balance out by November, and don’t be surprised if Brad Pitt makes a teary-eyed confession on a late-night talk show about the start of his relationship with Angelina Jolie.

Trends

Be prepared for Zoolander derelict homeless fashion style to hit the runways in spring 2008. Also, Asian influences, industrial chic, plaid and black-and-gold combos are all big next spring. Designers are mixing it up in terms of style. Fitted ruche skirts with loose tops are big. Plaid shirt dresses with flowing hemlines and wide, black, cinched belts … fitted plaid shirts under little dresses. Chromatic colors with a futuristic bent are coming in. You’ll see shiny silver and gold clothes. Gold satin suits with black shirts. The suit jackets are fitted while the pants are loose or vice versa.

You’ll see purses made from fabric and soda-can tops, belts made from leather and decorated bottle caps. Even jewelry is picking up the industrial chic trend with screwdriver-type motifs intertwined with modern circular styles inset with gems.

Relationships

This will be a great year to start a relationship. If you are in a relationship, this is a time to take your relationship to a deeper level or rekindle any stagnant feelings. If you’re looking for love, get out there and start mingling. A relationship started in this year has the ability to develop into something deep and lasting. If you suffered a divorce in 2007, don’t worry, 2008 will have you bouncing back. There’s an influx of new energy, vigor and excitement in the way you view life.

2008 will bring lots of change and freshness but also a level of stability. Eight represents stability and a strong foundation. Projects begun this year have staying power. So get those New Year's resolutions out and get going.

A. Elizabeth Anglin

Psychic

When did I know I was psychic? It took me a while to catch on. Both of my grandparents knew it when I was very young. My maternal grandfather mentioned it to my parents when I was 4 years old, and then my paternal grandmother took me aside at age 9 and tried to explain that I was "Just like your great-grandmother, Rebecca," who had been a midwife, folk-doctor and spirit healer in the hills of northern Alabama. People there were generally afraid of Rebecca until they needed her to come birth their baby or cure them of a fever or broken bone.

I was put into a "gifted" program in school because I could take almost any test and ace it without trying. I have since figured out I was just practicing being psychic because I didn't like homework and didn't like studying, and didn't want to get into trouble with my mother over my grades. I heard people say, “You can't know that!" often when I was growing up.

At 20 I started doing meditation exercises with a college professor who had been a Zen monk for more than a decade. During that time I had many interesting spiritual experiences that were unexpected. One of them involved visitations by aliens, which led me to help encourage John Mack at Harvard to begin researching alien abductions. After that, I studied reiki, evidential spirit mediumship and scientific remote viewing.

I don't use any cards or tools to read. I simply connect energetically and mentally to the question at hand and report what I see, hear and feel, both emotionally and physically.

Weather

There will be major storms in the Gulf of Mexico in early 2008 until mid-February, affecting oil platforms and rigs. January will be rough, with huge waves and big wind.

Another hurricane will hit land while at a Category 3 to 4 strength early in the hurricane season. It will make landfall between Houston and New Orleans. The eastern edge of the storm will be over New Orleans and the western edge near Houston. This storm will end up going right up the Mississippi River Valley, where it will also bring major flooding to the Midwest and loss of life in relating to flooding and bridges being washed out with people on them.

Albuquerque weather: It will be wet and snowy until mid-February, with good snow on the ski slopes until May, and then dry and pleasant through spring. There will be a monsoon this year with high temperatures, so prepare for it to be both hot and humid in the summer until mid-August, when it will become dry again through late fall.

Environment

There will be more wheat and crops lost, this time through locust swarms in August. There will also be more contaminated meat from packing plants in the Chicago area. This will be reported as a major news story in August. There will be major E. coli outbreaks in Illinois. 2008 is not the year to eat pork. Be safe: Do not eat pork products! Part of the problem has to do with flooding and raw sewage overflow. It will be very wet in the Midwest.

Gas Prices

Prices will go down because it’s an election year. Instead of $3, we are going to see prices as low as $2.49. When the storms come the prices will go back up to $3.18.

Unexpected Events

Much like Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s that was exposed after he left office, George Bush's raging alcoholism will be exposed as affecting his presidency, especially the last six months of his presidency.

The Yankees will win the World Series.

World Events

India will take even more call center jobs away from Albuquerque and the U.S. in general and will continue to experience great economic growth.

China will crack down on Taiwan. China will be also be spoken to by the U.S. regarding economic sanctions because of its human rights violations and will respond in a display of power by using aggressive force on Taiwanese and Tibetan people.

Chinese undercover agents have successfully infiltrated the Tibetan community in exile in India and will carry out some covert plans against the Dalai Lama and other members of the Tibetan government in exile. Look for illness and instability in the Tibetan government in exile.

Iraq moves toward greater stability as positive inflow of cash and stability from Saudi Arabia is now far outweighing negative inflow of suicide bombers, also from Saudi Arabia.

Americans will become upset with France again, probably something the French president will say that will be blatantly anti-American and pro-Palestine or Iran. So boycott good brie and french fries now, before it becomes fashionable!

New AIDS cases in Africa will decrease while new Ebola cases increase.

Ninja polar bears, trained by the Canadian government in a joint environmental and antisocial terrorism campaign, will target and dispatch any rude and annoying American tourists who are not kept away by the passport requirement … because something we didn’t expect has to happen in 2008.

For psychic bios and contact information, as well as the results from last year’s predictions, click here.